The decision means Route 172 (Vung Tau–Ben Thanh) will not be among the 134 bus routes eligible for a 100 per cent fare subsidy approved by HCM City's People's Council.
The route was launched on November 1, 2025, to connect central HCM City with Vung Tau following the merger of the two localities.
However, part of the route runs through Dong Nai, leading authorities to classify it as an inter-provincial service, making it ineligible for the free-fare policy, according to the city's Public Transport Management Centre.
Route 172 covers 97 km and operates 48 trips daily, with service intervals ranging from 10 to 80 minutes. The first bus departs at 4 a.m. and the last at 7:30 p.m.
The route is operated by Futa Bus Lines, with fares ranging from VND 35,000 for journeys under 30 km to VND 110,000 for the full route.
Meanwhile, Route 171, launched at the same time to connect central HCM City with the former Binh Duong area, remains eligible for the scheme because its entire route lies within HCM City's administrative boundaries.
Under a resolution passed by the city council on June 19, passengers will be able to travel free of charge on 134 bus routes from July through September without identity verification.
From October to December, passengers will continue to receive full fare support but will be required to verify their identity using bank cards, e-wallets, the MultiGo app, VNeID or other electronic payment methods.
Authorities said data from the electronic ticketing system would be used to reimburse transport operators based on actual passenger numbers.
